HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL
Sullivan East’s Forrester retires Michael Forrester, who has spent the last 12 seasons as softball coach at Sullivan East, has retired from the position, according to Sullivan East principal Andy Hare.
“Michael Forrester has devoted his life to Sullivan East High School. Our students, school, and community are better because of his efforts and his belief in his players,” said Hare, in a press release. “Coach Forrester is the example every head coach should follow on how to build a caring and respectful program. His players care for each other, they care for him, and they play for their school. We have been blessed because of Coach Forrester.”
Forrester, who replaced his brother, Tommy, at the helm in 2013, led the Patriots to a region championship and Sullivan East served as host for a sub-state contest in 2019, earning Three Rivers Conference coach of the year honors in the process.
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Forrester will continue to serve as a math teacher, in addition to an assistant girls basketball coach at Sullivan East. The release said the search for Forrester’s replacement on the diamond would begin as soon as possible.
“Sullivan East High School will always be appreciative of Coach Forrester for all he has done for our school,” said Sullivan East athletic director Kim Carrier, in the release. “He loves our school and makes his players part of his family. We are forever grateful for all of his contributions. We are thrilled he will be staying on as an integral part of our women’s basketball program.”
HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICS
Tennessee High athletes
heading to Murfreesboro Tennessee High tennis standout Averie Stalnaker captured the Region 1 singles championship on Tuesday night to earn a berth in the Class AA girls single championship next week in Murfreesboro. The Tennessee High doubles team of Allyson Kovacs and Trinity Moore will also compete in Murfreesboro in the Class AA doubles championship.
In addition, Tennessee High also placed several female athletes in the Class AA state track & field meet in Murfreesboro. They include Chase Wolfenbarger (pentathlon, triple jump, 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles), Keeley Canter (shot put, discus), Keaton Romans (long jump), Jenna Reecher (800 meters) and Addi Moore, Romans, Wolfenbarger and Reecher in the 4x400 relay.
Wolfenbarger is the defending Class AA state champion in the triple jump.
SEMI-PRO SOCCER
Rhythm back in action Saturday The Bristol Rhythm semi-pro soccer team will host Port City FC from Wilmington, N.C. on Saturday at Gene Malcolm Stadium in Bristol, Va.
Bristol played its first National Premier Soccer League game last Saturday, falling to Appalachian FC 3-0 in front of an estimated 1,200 spectators.
Bristol had been slated to play on Wednesday against Alliance 865 from Knoxville, but that game was postponed.
The Rhythm and Port City, which is also in its first year in the NPSL, will kick off on Saturday at 7 p.m.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
ETSU plays final regular season seriesThe East Tennessee State baseball team will travel to face Miami (Ohio) in the three-series beginning on Friday in the regular season finale for the Buccaneers.
ETSU (32-17) concluded its Southern Conference schedule on Sunday with an 18-14 loss to Wofford in 10 innings to finish 13-8 and in third place in the SoCon, trailing first place Samford and North Carolina-Greensboro.
The Southern Conference tournament will be held on May 22-26 at Fluor Field in Greenville, S.C.
COLLEGE GOLF
ETSU back in NCAA Championship For the fourth straight year and 21st time in program history, the ETSU men’s golf team is heading to the NCAA Championship.
Following a historic second-round performance, the 21st-ranked Buccaneers put themselves in comfortable position to secure one of the top five spots in the Chapel Hill Regional, as ETSU finished in second place with final round play concluding on Wednesday from UNC’s Finley Golf Course.
The Bucs finished with a score of 24-under-par 816 after posting a 3-under 277 in the third round. Clemson won the regional by one shot at 25-under-par 274 after carding a 6-under 274 in the finale. Clemson took over the top spot with a birdie on the final hole, while ETSU recorded a bogey.
ETSU and Clemson will be joined in the NCAA Championship from the region by North Carolina (3rd, -20), Georgia Tech (4th, -17) and Baylor (5th, -15).
ETSU’s score of 816 marked a new 54-hole program record for low total, adding to an already record-setting week. In Monday’s second round, the Bucs fired 265, which marked the lowest round in school history, while the 15-under resulted in the second-lowest round in relation to par by any Buccaneer team in an NCAA Regional. Following two rounds, ETSU was at 21-under-par 539, which marked the lowest 36-hole total in school history.
ETSU was led by Algot Kleen as he finished tied for eighth at 8-under-par 202, while Mats Ege and Matty Dodd-Berry also placed in the top-15. Kleen, who tied the lowest round in school history with the 63 in round two, posted his best finish in his third NCAA Regional played. Ege finished tied for 12th at 7-under-par 203 and Dodd-Berry finished tied for 14th at 6-under-par 204.